Thursday, June 08, 2006

A peaceful death- case of Cancer of Esophagus

It was a case of Ca Esophagus at the O.G. junction with metastasis in the spine. The histopathology report showed Grade 2 adenocarcinoma of the stomach with lymph nodes almost replaced by metastatic deposit. The patient had undergone esophagectomy and gastric pull up surgery in July 2004 along with chemotherapy that was also administered.

He had complaints of difficulty in swallowing solid food and malaena since 9 months along with pain in the upper part of the abdomen and retrosternal region. The patient was 70 years of age during the surgery.

After the treatment there was relief for 6 months after this he developed severe backache and difficulty in swallowing food. For this the patient underwent another surgery and esophageal stenting was done this gave some relief in swallowing. There was a recurrence of the neoplasm at the lower end of the esophagus again with metastasis in the spine. Bone scan showed increased tracer intake at D10 and collapse of the D8 vertebrae with partial lytic sclerosis.

By this time the patient develop very severe backache which didn’t respond to the normal course of treatment so the doctors advised that he should undergo radiation. Along with this another cycle of chemotherapy was started which the patient was unable to withstand. After this he became very weak and bed ridden and there was severe backache. So the treatment was stopped. At this point the family member’s thought of trying out homeopathy.

They asked if we can relieve the pain and anything can be done for the patient. So I had to go for a visit as the patient was not in a position to come to the consulting room. When I went to the patient’s house I saw a frail man lying on the bed with his legs flexed at the knees and drawn up. He was very cheerful and thanked me for coming to see him. He was well orientated and his memory was pretty sharp. He gave me the key note when he said doctor “Iam physically weak but mentally strong”.

Due to the surgery the voice had become very low pitched but he explained his symptoms he said he had severe burning pain in the back and also at the site of the surgery. The complaints were aggravated by sitting he was unable to sit even for 5 minutes, by walking the pain radiates to the left thigh. I asked him why was he sleeping like this with his legs drawn up he said this is the only position that gave him relief.

Pain was the main concern of the patient and he wanted to go out for his walks. There were also external growths on the scalp and one on the retrosternal region. These were painless and didn’t cause any trouble to the patient.

He said till 70 years of his age he has lead a very healthy life he has not suffered from any major illness expect for the Typhoid and Small pox that he suffered as a child. He said he has no worries and is quite satisfied as he has had a good life. He worked for an overseas bank as a chief officer. It was a transferable job but he liked the job very much. He used to work very hard from morning 7am till 11 pm at night. He liked to complete whatever job he took and when he retired he had 700 medical leaves pending. Overall he enjoyed his work.

As a person he is mild by nature and very sensitive if somebody said something wrong he got hurt emotionally and was unable to forget the event. After his illness he weeps very often when something hurts him emotionally.

In childhood he used to mix very easily with people and they stayed in a joint family. He was very much afraid of his father as he was very strict. He had 11 brothers and 1 sister then also he used to feel he has nobody. This was all I could get about his childhood.

Then he said he gets lots of dreams they are as follows

Vague dreams
Dreams of flying in sky+3
He is trying to run but cannot run
Someone is chasing him and he cannot run
Dream of examination and he is not ready for the examination
He has to go to pass stools but he is unable to find the toilet
His son has fallen in a pit and he is unable to save him.
Dreams of dead people.

Family history
Father expired at 80 years of age Ca.Kidney
Mother expired due to old age suffered from Arthritis

On examinationFungating growth black in color with bloody purulent discharge located on the sternum chest and on the scalp.
Horizontal furrows on the forehead. Graying of hair had started when he was very young.
Arcus senilis

30/9/05
The pain was better. Tumor was increasing in size.
Discharge bloody from the tumors. Patient says pain is much better.
At this we gave him the constitutional remedy which was Lycopodium in the LM potency.

1) Lycopodium 0/4
7 powders 1 every night was given once the pain was better.

2) S.L
2 pills 4 hourly

3) S.L
1-0-1

21/10/05
Patient started walking
Discharge from the tumors offensive. Patient feels better on the whole.
Pain is much better
Rx
Continue the same treatment

30/10/05
Patient was better
But he developed some Upper respiratory tract infection. Relatives put him on antibiotics as their doctor advised. The patient started to deteriorate. Pain was better.
Rx
This conversation took place on phone. Due to some reasons the medicines were not collected and the patient was admitted in hospital.

11/11/05
I received a call from the son that his father passed away peacefully. He told me his father told him that he wanted to visit to the consulting room once as he felt obliged as his pain was much better. His son told they were happy as at least the last months were pain free. This was the only request the patient had made when I had gone to see him. He said just get me out of this pain. And when the right Homeopathic remedy was given palliation was achieved.

Understanding of the caseThe patient was given Colocynth as an acute remedy as the acute picture matched with colocynth. Lycopodium was his constitutional remedy but as we know when the susceptibility of the patient is low and advanced pathological changes taken place when the constitutional remedy is given the body sometimes cannot take in the initial aggravation. After the improvement in the pain the patient was given Lycopodium in the LM potency after reviewing the case once again. And the patient responded in a very good way and further improvement was seen.

It should be noted in treating terminally ill patient one has to be very careful in selected the potency and its correct application. We achieved palliation and we were able to relieve the pains of the patient which didn’t subside even after taking painkillers. I remember one case where there were multiple pathological fractures , patient was on morphine and then also the pain was tremendous in this case also the acute picture matched with Colocynth .Colocynth 6 was given and the pain was much better.

So perceiving the case is very important if we have to deliver what we promise.

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About Me

Dr.Santosh Joshi is a Classical Homeopath and practices Classical
Homeopathy in the city of Mumbai and via his various websites provides
consultation to patients from all over the world.(www.drjoshis.com,www.happylivin.com,www.homeopathywomen.com,www.homeopathyallergies.com) Dr.Joshi is working in
the field of Autism spectrum disorder for the past 13 years and is a
ardent promoter of early intervention,role of Homeopathy,Diet and
therapy in treating Autism.

Dr.Joshi looks into cases of autism ranging from mild-moderate-severe
, with the in-depth analysis and evaluation of every case we have been
able to achieve good results in treating autism.We also are a strong
advocate of the necessity of Dietary intervention and therapies which
are an essential part of the line of treatment.

We at Center for Autism follow a standard protocol for treating our
patients, we also take help of state of art Homeopathic software in
evaluating the autism case histories for the right Homeopathic medicine
which plays a crucial role in treating autism.Homeopathic medicines are
very effective in increasing the eye contact,social behavior,reducing
hyperactivity,addressing the sensory issues and in certain cases the
violent behavior due to obsessive compulsive disorder are handled with
care.

Our Center is focusing and studying various ways in which we can
effectively handle the growing cases of Autism , and also advice gluten
free casein free diet which is helpful.

Glimpses of Experience & Expertise:

12 years of Clinical experience in treating complex diseases with
Homeopathy at his Happy Livin Centre and via online consultation

Ex Director in a wellness company in the field of Homeopathy, Diet
& Nutrition, Yoga & Naturopathy, Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani
medicine. He was also heading the Education in Homeopathy department.

Honorary Speaker at First CME held at Chokshi Auditorium in Tata Memorial Hospital on Application of Tele Medicine in Homeopathy

Honorary Speaker at Birla Matoshree Auditorium on Role of Computers in Homeopathy

Honorary Speaker at AICAR Business School on Role of Tele Medicine in Rural setup, to policy makers and budding entrepreneurs

Won a prize for his paper presentation on Successful management of a
case of Grade 4 Astrocytoma and its Homeopathic management at a all
India Level Homeopathic Case Presentation organized by BEACON foundation

Honorary Speaker at a Convocation Ceremony of Cosmetology at Trinity Academy where he spoke on - His Road to Entrepreneurship

His article on Role of Homeopathy in Autism has been published in
Homeopathy International - The Homeopathic Medical Association U.K.

His article on Don't Stress me - On Examination stress has been published in Hindustan times

Education:

Bachelor of Homoeopathic medicines and surgery (B.H.M.S) from University of Pune in the year 1999.

Training in the Institute of clinical research (ICR) Pune.

Knowledge and Professional Experience:

Dealing with Acute and Chronic cases and its management with Homoeopathic medicines.

Working in the field of treating woman's diseases with
special interest in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), Fibroadenoma of
the breast, uterine fibroids. He has worked in the Gynecology and
Obstetrics department at Cantonment hospital Pune

Dealing with respiratory tract diseases with special
interest in Allergies, Bronchial Asthma as well in acute and chronic
bronchitis in children and adults and its management

Running a successful online homeopathic consultancy services since the last 10 years

Treating Diabetes and it complications. He was
associated with the dialysis unit at the Lions tarachand hospital where
he developed the interest of treating Diabetic nephropathy and other
complications of diabetes like non healing ulcers and neuropathy

He had the opportunity to work with senior
dermatologists at the cantonment hospital in pune where he saw many
patients and developed the interest in treating atopic dermatitis, Acne
vulgaris as well as roseacea, Herpes zoster and herpes simplex, Hair
loss and other skin ailments through homeopathy. He has been
successfully treating skin ailments since then

Treating patients suffering from depression and other mental disorders

Treating children who suffer from behavioral disorders and autistic complex disorder

Worked with a senior pediatrician in neonatology and pediatrics at Bhide Hospital

Worked in Lions Tarachand Bappa hospital as a resident
medical officer. Dealt with the various aspects in General surgery,
Gynecology, Neonatology, renal diseases and dialysis

Worked with a Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Sunil Keswani learned the various aspects of burns case management

Worked in the organizing committee in 2 major
International Homoeopathic Conferences in Mumbai Simillimum 2000 and
2001 held at Shanmukhanand Hall Mumbai

Organized 2 seminars during college years and visited rural medical camps and treated patients

Worked in the Organizing Committee of Simillimum 2003 conference at Birla Matushri in Mumbai

Was invited for the W.H.O sponsored seminar on Management of Geriatric diseases and its Homeopathic management